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Hello! I’m
Patti. I was born
missing my right arm below the elbow.
I’m 32 years old, married to my husband Scott for 12 years and
have a nine-year-old daughter named Tori.
I live in central Wisconsin and currently work as a computer
programmer. I enjoy
camping, sewing, music, and recreational sports.
I did everything right on time when I was
a baby, crawled at 5 months, walked at 11 months, etc.
One day, mom found that I discovered my short arm fit into one of
my shoes and found me crawling around with my shoe on my arm!
I received my first passive prosthesis at 7 months of age, one of
the little mitten types. The
next one I wore was the hook type.
Once I was older, I used to take it off during Phys Ed classes so
I could be more comfortable and not worry about accidentally smacking
somebody with it. One
particularly warm day in seventh grade, I couldn’t bear to put it back
on, so I left it off for the rest of the day.
After that, I quit wearing it all together and haven’t had one
since. I found I could do
just as much if not more without it and I was a lot more comfortable.
The only thing I couldn’t do anymore was run my hook along the
small battery charger in seventh grade science class and make lots of
sparks (the other kids thought it was cool, but the teacher didn’t
share the same enthusiasm when he caught me at it one day! LOL)
I am the oldest in my family.
While growing up, my family and friends never treated me any
differently. If someone
mentioned me being handicapped, my sisters were usually the first to
say, “She isn’t handicapped, she can do just as much as everyone
else, if not more.” I can
play piano, but I never took any lessons, so I never played a lot.
I can play a few songs, and they are always good for showing
people that there isn’t much I can’t do!
It’s really hard to point out any specific things in a profile
like this, because I’ve always just been a normal person doing normal
things like everyone else. People
always say that they forget about my arm because it is never an issue,
and to be honest, I forget sometimes, too.
I still remember once in the middle of an intense volleyball
game, swinging at the ball with my right arm, and for a couple seconds
wondering why I missed the ball! (-:
I was so glad to find the I-CAN
website. Growing up in
small towns, I’ve never had anyone to share my difference with who
actually understood what I was talking about.
I enjoyed reading many of the profiles on the website.
I saw so much of myself in a lot of them.
I’m happy to find a group where I really “fit in” and also
where I-CAN be of help to others.
Family Picture - Scott, Tori & Patti
Lighting unity candle at our wedding
In the hospital with our new daughter
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Taking a bath in the sink - 6 months old
Time for a snooze - 12 months old
Wearing my prosthesis - 18 months old
two-years-old
Trying out my new swing set - 3 years old
Lunch with friends in high school
 Patti
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